Effects of distillers’ dried grains with solubles from corn, wheat or a 50:50 corn:wheat blend on performance, carcass characteristics and serum sulphate levels of feedlot steers

Abstract

Amat, S., Hendrick, S., McAllister, T. A., Block, H. C. and McKinnon, J. J. 2012. Effects of distillers’ dried grains with solubles from corn, wheat or a 50:50 corn:wheat blend on performance, carcass characteristics and serum sulphate levels of feedlot steers. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 343–351. Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn (CDDGS), wheat (WDDGS) or a 50:50 corn:wheat blend (BDDGS) dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) on performance (Trials 1 and 2), carcass traits (Trial 2) and serum sulphate level (Trial 2) of steers. In Trial 1, 396 steers (281.1±19.6 kg) were fed one of three backgrounding diets. The control diet was 34.3% barley grain, 26.0% grass hay, 10.3% barley straw, 22.8% barley silage and 6.7% supplement [dry matter (DM) basis]. For the two treatments, 17% of the barley was replaced with CDDGS or WDDGS. In Trial 2, 288 steers (273.9±18.5 kg) were backgrounded and finished. Backgrounding diets were identical to Trial 1, with a third treatment where 17% of the barley grain was replaced with BDDGS. The control finishing diet was 86.8% barley grain, 7.4% barley silage and 5.8% supplement (DM basis). Treatments included replacement of 40% of the barley grain (DM basis) with CDDGS, BDDGS or WDDGS. In Trial 1, there was no effect of DDGS on dry matter intake (DMI) (P=0.49), average daily gain (ADG) (P=0.64), feed efficiency (P=0.06), ultrasound fat (USFAT) (P=0.90) or longissimus dorsi (USLD) (P=0.071) area. In Trial 2, overall, DMI of cattle fed WDDGS was higher (P=0.03) than control or CDDGS cattle, with BDDGS intermediate. In contrast, ADG was higher (P<0.01) for the CDDGS and BDDGS than either the control or WDDGS fed cattle. The CDDGS and BDDGS cattle were more efficient (P<0.01) than those fed WDDGS with the controls intermediate. Cattle fed CDDGS or WDDGS exhibited higher (P<0.01) serum sulphate levels compared with BDDGS or control cattle, reflecting differences in sulphur intake. The results indicate that CDDGS is a superior energy source to WDDGS and that both sources of DDGS can be used as a partial replacement for barley in backgrounding and finishing diets for cattle.

Short Communication: Use of high-lipid by-product pellets as a partial replacement for barley grain and canola meal in finishing diets for beef steers

“…While by-products can be used to partially replace grain in finishing rations, previous research has focused on the use of specific by-products in isolation. Due to the unique composition of each by-product, single ingredient substitution strategies often lead to the overfeeding of some nutrients and less efficient feed utilization (Amat et al 2012;Yang et al 2012). Furthermore, applying single ingredient substitution strategies limit the use of some by-products for finishing cattle.…”

“…Strategic blending of various by-products can be used to limit disadvantages associated with single by-product inclusion in the diet (Zenobi et al 2012), namely unbalanced ruminal and postruminal energy and protein supply as well as reducing the potential for over and underfeeding particular nutrients (Amat et al 2012;Yang et al 2012). However, even when several byproducts are combined in the diet, the reduced starch and greater structural carbohydrate content in most byproducts as compared with grains (Marx et al 2000;Mustafa et al 2000) may result in insufficient energy content in the diet for finishing cattle.…”

Evaluation of a phase-feeding strategy utilizing high-lipid high-fibre byproduct pellets in diets for feedlot steers

“…As a consequence of increased grain prices, feedlot operators have been searching for viable alternatives to cereal grain as energy sources for finishing cattle. Studies evaluating the use of byproducts from the cereal grain, oilseed, and bioethanol industries for finishing cattle have demonstrated that comparable carcass quality and average daily gain (ADG) can be attained, relative to barley grain, although the inclusion rate of the byproducts in diets may affect performance (Pylot et al 2000;Amat et al 2012;Yang et al 2012). Most previous studies have investigated dietary byproduct inclusion in isolation rather than utilizing a combination of byproducts.…”

Use of Wheat Distiller Grains in Ruminant Diets

“…McKinnon and Walker [21] reported that growing steers fed wheat distiller grain at 25 or 50% of dietary dry mater gained faster and were more eicient than steers fed a barley grain diet. In contrast, no beneit was reported when wheat distiller grain was fed at level of 17% [24] or at levels up to 40% [14] in growing diets. It appeared that when the level of wheat distiller grain is too high, dietary protein level can be exceeded to the protein requirement by animal.…”